Official Trailer of Malayalam movie, Janaadhipan released

Official trailer of the Malayalam political movie, Janaadhipan released.

The official trailer of the upcoming Hareesh Peradi starrer Malayalam political movie directed by Thanseer MA has been released today. In addition to the power packed acting of Peradi, others in the star cast are Vinu Mohan, Hariprashanth MG, Anil Nedumangad, Sunil Sukhada, Kottayam Pradeep, Tanuja Karthik, Dinesh Panicker, Maala Parvathi, Balachandran Chullikkad and Appunni Sasi among others. Music by Mejjo Josseph, Cinematography by Rajeesh Raman, Edited by Abhilash Balachandran, Produced by R. Balaji Venkatesh under the banner of Devi Entertainments. Muzik247 is the official music partner. Enjoy the first breatess ong and trailer song composed by Mejjo Josseph and lyrics by Anil Panachooran and rendered by Vineeth Sreenivaasan.

Kerala Civic By-Poll Results: CPM led LDF bags 21 out of 39 wards, BJP ends with just two seats and falls on its own Hindutva bait

LDF sweeps the Local Body by-polls by winning 21 out of 39 seats.

The agenda of the BJP to polarise the society of Kerala did not gain any tangible gain, if the results of the just released Local Body by-polls were anything to go by. Due to various reasons, there were 39 seats vacant in Kerala’s local bodies including 27 panchayat wards, six municipality wards, five block panchayat wards and a solitary corporation ward across 14 districts.

When the by-election results came, Sabarimala issuewent into back-burner and the literate people saw through the vicious agenda played by both the BJP and the Congress playing to the gallery. When the results were announced, the LDF had won hands down 21 seats, Congress came a distant second with winning eleven seats and the BJP, getting relegated to the fourth pole position and be content with just two seats, losing the third position to SDPI, which won three seats.

Congress led UDF managed to win eleven seats in the recently held civic by-polls, but conceded its sitting seat to a rebel candidate in Pathanamthitta.

The win vindicates that the stand taken by the ruling LDF in Kerala on the vexed Sabarimala issue, following the Supreme Court ruling was right and under the law, whatever is possible, the government did and prevented the escalation of violence. Besides managing to win only two seats, the BJP ceded its sitting seat to the LDF and ironically in Pathanamthitta, where the hill shrine of Sabarimala too is situated.

When the LDF won 21 wards, it was a clean sweep in Trishoor winning all the five seats it contested, In the northern region, the LDF won two out of four wards, Kozhikode too it won the sole seat it contested and in Malappuram it bagged two seats out of the four wards. In Alapuzha, thought the LDF could only gain a single ward out of the five wards where by-election was held and in Palakkad district it contested in two wards and won it too.

Though, it was a civic body by-poll, the campaign was as vociferous as the Lok Sabha election, to say the least. The fiery campaign by the BJP on the Sabarimala issue went in vain. Though, the Congress-led United Democratic Fund managed to win double digit by winning in eleven wards, however, the party’s biggest embarrassment was losing out its seat Pathanamthita municipality to its own rebel candidate. The result signified the procrastination and different stands the party took in terms of issues such as Sabarimala and the intelligent voters read through the whole game plan and gave a fitting response.

At the time of campaigning, both the BJP and Congress thought it was a forgone conclusion that the LDF will not even bag a single seat due to the Sabarimala standoff, while the LDF camp, unmindful of other parties’ campaign rhetoric, went about the campaigning with utmost seriousness and the cadre worked full time convincing the voters about the secular stand taken by the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayanby just following the SC ruling and acted upon it. It worked with the voters realised the game plan and gave a befitting reply in Pathanamthitta, where the two seats were won by an independent (read Congress rebel) and a candidate fielded by the SDPI. The polarisation agenda might work elsewhere, but not in Kerala and that is what the clear message, with the local body by-poll verdict proved.

BJP fell into its own trap of Hindutva agenda in the recent local body by-polls, where the party got only two seats.

When the BJP and Congress-led UDF were trying to fish in the proverbial fishing in the troubled waters, apart from the LDF, another beneficiary was the SDPI, who improved its tally by adding one more seat. Earlier, the party had only one seat. Even independent candidates three wards in comparision to BJP’s tally of two seats. The writing on the wall is clear. Unleashing violence under the garb of religious sentiments won’t win them seats, rather let these political parties talk about reviving Kerala from the damage caused by floods. An important point to be noted is the fact that this is the first ever poll happening in Kerala after the Supreme Court ruling on the entry of women in Sabarimala of all ages came a couple of months back. So, this was kind of litmus test for both the ruling LDF as well as for the UDF and the result of an experiment by the BJP whether it can gain entry in Kerala through polarising methodology. The secular nature of Kerala cannot be torn by divisive and communal agenda, whichever party tries to do, they always got drubbed in the polls. The bottom line is that never underestimate the power of voters in Kerala.

Congress and AAP come together on a same stage at the Farmers Rally in Delhi

Delhi Farmers Protest March from Ramlila Maidan to Parliament Street.

Defying the winter chillness, farmers from all over the country converged at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi yesterday to protest against the ruling BJP-led NDA Government policies and demanding a slew of welfare measures. Many of the farmers were seen without clothes on their back, quite agitated shouting slogans demanding waiver of loans and fix better prices for their produce.

For the first time the Kissan Rally provided a platform for the two political leaders, Congress President, Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party patron, Arvind Kejriwal sharing the dais, along with members of several opposition parties, who have rallied behind the farmers.

While speaking at the Kissan Rally, Gandhi said that the country was facing twin challenges such as the bleak future of the farmers and rising unemployment of the youth. The farmers had sought only what they duly owed from the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Apparently, what the farmers got in turn, deviating from the poll promises, was empty rhetoric from Modi administration.

Reacting to the farmers’ plight, Kejriwal took a jibe at the Union Government for its highly publicised insurance for farmers, which the AAP lead termed it as yet another game plan to exploit these hapless farmers. No untoward incidents were reported and when the rally ended peacefully in the evening, the ruling dispensation were blissfully quite, without even responding to the pesant revolt happening under their very nose.

Gandhi assured the peasants that none, not even the Narendra Modi led-NDA Government can silence the growing voice of these farmers and the frustrated unemployed youth of the country. Gandhi asserted that if the nonchalant approach of the government was an insult to the farmers, and the latter will ensure that arrogant government will be removed.

Directly attacking the Government, Gandhi asked as to why the Union Government, which had the capacity to let go off up to the tune of Rs.3.5 lakh crore in dues owed by as many as 15 corporate honchos, while the ruling dispensation is conveniently was hell bent on refusing to wave off the loans of millions of farmers.

Sitaram Yechuri. Photo: Twitter.

The left party, CPI (M), which is supporting the farmers’ agitation asserted that the agricultural grate had nose-dived under the Narendra Modi Government. He further termed the PM as a “Pocket-Mar”, who robs off all public money and in turn give peanuts as a relief. As part of polarising the country on the religous lines to gain power, Yechuri said that every five years, Modi invoked the Ram Mandir card. Kerjriwal accused the Union Government of meeting out step-motherly treatment to these hapless farmers who feed the nation. Stating that the BJP led Government’s Bima Yojana (Insurance) formers was nothing but fraud, he said that tousands and croes of rupees were collected from the farmers accounts and when the farmers were in dire straights, with the crops were destroyed dut to natural disasters, the Union Government was putting lot of terms and conditions. Kejriwal, taking a jibe at the BJP, said: “This is BJP’s Daka Yojana”, – meaning Decoit Scheme in Hindi.

Opposition Unity

Opposition unity at Farmers’ Rally in New Delhi. Photo: IYC.

The farmers rally saw the solidarity of the opposition including representatives of 21 political parties, big and small sharing the dais. Political leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechuri, Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav joined hands and stood in unison on the stage. When the farmers marched toward Parliament to give a memorandum to the President, they were stopped near the Police Station at the entrance of Parliament Street. Many farmers were seen carrying the skulls of their dear ones who ended their lives due to farm crisis. Also, a group of women from the Telangana State marched on the streets of the capital holding the photos of their deceased husbands, apparently who killed themselves due to financial crisis and crop loss.

Meanwhile, the Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav took a 26-kilometres padayathra protesting against the indifference being shown to the farmers by the ruling party. He walked from Bujwasan to Ramlila Maidan two days back. Yadav said his party was protesting against the loot and exploitation of farmers by the BJP Government. Stating that the entire nation was with the farmers including the media, medical profession, student community, artists and more. Spearheading the agitation is the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), the umbrella body for farmers’ groups, which number in excess of 200.

“BJP president Amit Shah’s statements in Kannur are against the constitution and the law of the land. It is a clear intention of their agenda of not to guarantee the fundamental rights. This shows the agenda of the RSS and Sangh Parivar”, Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayai Vijayan was quoted as saying by the NDTV report.

Shah’s threat

As the number of protesters who were arrested had crossed 2,800 across Kerala in a crackdown on those who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala shrine, BJP chief Amit Shaw accussed the Left government in Kerala was misusing the issue to target BJP and RSS workers. Stating that the party was standing “like a rock” behind them, Shah said the Communist government in Kerala would be brought down by BJP workers.

Fitting response

The response was quick from the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who said it revealed the BJP’s agenda on the Sabarimala standoff. Shah said in Kannur, “Today in Kerala a struggle is going on between religious beliefs and state government’s cruelty. The Left government in Kerala has misused the Sabarimala issue. They have used it to arrest workers and supporters of the BJP and other political parties.”

Subtle Threat

While addressing a rally at Kannur in Kerala after inaugurating a party office in the city, Shah said, “I warn Kerala’s communist chief minister, don’t oppress devotees in the name of implementing the Supreme Court judgement,” he said, terming the protests as “aastha ke liye sangharsh (struggle to save tradition)”.
Shah also alleged that the crackdown by the police is part of “a communist plot against temples. We want to assure the people of Kerala that the BJP will stand like a rock in support of your sentiment. We will always be there for the people of Kerala and the devotees of Lord Ayyappa,” Shah asserted.

Counter Attack

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responded to Mr Shah’s comments, saying that they go against the constitution. “Amit Shah’s statements in Kannur are against the constitution and the law of the land. It’s a clear intention of their agenda of not to guarantee the fundamental rights. This shows the agenda of the RSS and Sangh Parivar,” he said.

Responding to Mr Shah’s statement that BJP workers will “bring down the Kerala government” if it “continues to oppress Ayyappa devotees”, Vijayan said, “Amit Shah who threatened to topple our government should remember that this government came to power, not at the mercy of BJP, but the people’s mandate. His message is to sabotage the people’s mandate”.

Sabarimala Imbroglio

Kerala had witnessed massive protests from devotees at various places, including Sabarimala, Nilakkal and Pamba, against permitting women of all ages to enter the shrine, where the deity is ‘Naishtika Brahmachari’ (perennial celibate), when the temple was opened for monthly poojas from October 17-22. At least 12 women in the ‘barred’ age group of 10 to 50 had tried to trek the hills to offer prayers but had to retreat following widespread protests.

Across the state, 2,825 people have been arrested after the chief minister on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with police officials and ordered a crackdown on those defying the Supreme Court order on the entry of women in the Sabarimala temple. A total of 495 cases have been registered. “Most of the people arrested are Hindutva activists, affiliated to various organisations, including BJP and RSS,” a top police source told NDTV.

“Arrests and lookout notices are based on video evidence that the police had recorded during the violence. Even the mobile location of suspects based on the Nilakkal and Pamba mobile towers have been tracked as evidence,” the source told the television channel.

The Communist Party of India Marxist, CPI (M) has today demanded the resignation of the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, MJ Akbar, after some women journalists accused him of sexually harassing them, according to a PTI report.

The CPI (M) statement further said the seven women journalists had come forward recounting their experience of sexual harassment and unacceptable behaviour by Akbar. The campaign, #MeToo is gaining more steam in India, as some journalists have come out in the open and accused Akbar of sexually harassing them during their stint as journalists. Akbar was holding editor’s position several newspapers such as Daily Telegraph, Asian Age etc., before he entered into active politics. In a statement, the CPI (M) said, “Since these are serious charges, MJ Akbar’s continuance as a the Minister of State in the Central government is untenable. He should immediately resign from office.”